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Opening up the future
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Maria DeAngelis waves to her family in the crowd during the Struthers High School commencement on Sunday afternoon at the high school.
By Bob Jackson
STRUTHERS
Rachael Repko could hardly believe that the young woman who turned the tassel to end her years at Struthers High School was the same one who first walked the halls of the school as a freshman.
She wishes she’d changed sooner. But, better late than never.
“The majority of my time here, I was really shy,” said the petite, 18-year-old redhead. “I just kind of came out of my shell this past year. I wish I’d have done that sooner and started talking to people and making more friends sooner.”
Repko was among more than 160 students who received diplomas during commencement ceremonies Sunday afternoon at Struthers High.
She said that about a year ago, she decided to take charge of her life and to be more assertive and outgoing. She likes the person she is now, more than the one she was before.
“I realized that I don’t need somebody to tell me what to do or how to think,” she said. “I am my own person.”
An only child, Repko said she’s proud of who she’s become and is looking forward to starting her college years at Youngstown State University, where she plans to study art, which has been one of the passions in her life.
And she’s hoping that college will bring an end to early morning wake-up calls from her alarm clock.
“I’m done with waking up at 8 in the morning,” she said, laughing. “I’m very excited today.”
Then she walked away to chat it up and visit with her classmates, who were gathered as a group one last time. In keeping with the school’s colors, the boys wore black caps and gowns while the girls wore red. Some had special sashes to denote their status as honor students or for being at the top of their class.
“In general, it’s an amazing class, both from an academic perspective and an athletic perspective,” said first-year Principal Roger Day. “I feel very blessed to have come into a situation like this with such a great group of kids who show how it’s supposed to be done.”
Mary Ann Meadows, also a high school principal, said several students in the Class of 2014 persevered through difficult life and family circumstances to achieve success. She pointed to the fact that there were 10 valedictorians in this class.
“That’s the most we’ve ever had here,” Meadows said. “They’re a great class.”
Like many graduates, Rachel Marchese said graduation day is a bittersweet experience, blending the tastes of regret from leaving behind close friends and favorite teachers, with the sweetness of expectation and high hopes for a wide-open future.
“I’m just ready to start the new chapter of my life,” Marchese said. “Let’s get this over with and move on.”
Marchese, a member of the National Honor Society, will study graphic design at YSU and hopes to eventually parlay that into a career working for either Disney World or Google.
Why Disney World?
“I love Disney,” she said with a wide smile. “Who doesn’t?”
She said her favorite Disney character is Tinkerbell, so she would be thrilled to one day be able to work on a project that involves her.
Marchese said she was active in several clubs and sports, including golf, at Struthers. She also was involved in several community service projects, which she intends to continue wherever her life takes her.
“They did encourage us to do that here, and I think that’s important,” she said. “You should give back to those who gave to you. Do your part.”
For Vince Melone, graduation was a step closer toward becoming independent.
“Now I’m moving on with my life,” the 17-year-old said. “I can do what I want to do. Live my own life.”
Sporting a red necktie, which stood out in appropriate contrast against his black dress shirt, Melone said he plans to “take a year off” to figure out what sort of career path he wants to follow. He enjoys wildlife and the outdoors, so he is considering becoming a park ranger, or something along those lines.
Jonathon Sapp, 19, a special-needs student who received his diploma Sunday, said he’ll miss the friends he made at Struthers High, and the teachers and staff who were so kind. He was active in the Drama Club and choir, but Nancy Gough, one of the high school secretaries, said Sapp went “above and beyond what he needed to do to graduate.”
“I can’t say enough about him,” Gough said. “He is such an outstanding young man. I just have to speak up for him.”
She said Sapp volunteered his time working at concession stands during football games and doing other projects, and always had a positive outlook.
Sapp said he will attend the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center to study hospitality, and eventually would like to work at Cedar Point.
“I want to run the rides,” he said.
And his favorite?
“The Top Thrill Dragster,” he said.